Final answer:
The first disease proven to be of bacterial origin was Anthrax, established by Robert Koch in 1876. Bubonic plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, and tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are significant bacterial diseases historically and presently.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first disease shown to be bacterial in origin was Anthrax. This discovery was made by Robert Koch in 1876, when he isolated the bacterium Bacillus anthracis as the cause of anthrax. This was a groundbreaking finding that firmly established the germ theory of disease and paved the way for modern bacteriology. One of the most historically important bacterial diseases that caused pandemics is the bubonic plague, which is caused by the bacterial pathogen Yersinia pestis. This pathogen led to the decline of cities and entire nations during various pandemics throughout history. In modern times, tuberculosis is one of the bacterial diseases with the highest disease burden worldwide. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the bacterium causing tuberculosis, which continues to be a major health concern, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Historical records going back to 3000 B.C. document infectious diseases, including pandemics that were caused by bacteria, demonstrating the long history of bacterial diseases and their impact on human societies.